Perambulator and the like



May 14 1929.- v l E. Tx MoRRlss 1,712,712

PERAMBULATOR AND'THE LIKE:`

Filed March 9, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 1 Inventor u. tw ttorney.

E. T. MoRRlss '1,712,712

PERAMBULATOR AND THE LIKE May 14, 1929.

Filed Malfch 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L o Q o n D 10o M .//.i a u Ilm Inventor by u I Jttorneu.

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Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,712,712 PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD THOMPSON MORRISS, OF LETCHWORTH, ENGLAND.

IPERAMBULATOR AND THE LIKE.

Application filed March 9, 1925, Serial No. 14,179, and in Great Britain July 17, 19534.

This invention relates to perambulators, mail carts and the like, and has among its objects elli'ectively and resiliently to suspend or support the body Without the employment et a trame extending' as a Whole or substan tially 'from within or beneath the body, and to proihuce a construction that is neat and clnnpact, and that is adapted conveniently to be licpt clean and ot' good appearance.

According to the invention the body ot the perambulator, mail-cart or the like is sus pended or supported from the iront and rear axles by elastic element-s or helical springs disposed in opposite positionsin sets, so that the slight downward displac-.einent ot lthe body with reference to the axles takes place under the resistance ot the respective sets oi springs in such manner that they are extended er compressed.

According to the invention the axles are advantageously connected together by parallel longitudinal members, which with the axles, may constitute a substantially rectangular traine, so that thus the stresses imposed upon the springs under load are inwardly transmittedto the respective axles and to the trame.

The invention comprises the constructional te: tures hereinafter described.

rlhe invention is :illustrated by Way of eX.- aniple in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which lligure l is a sectional side elevation of a peranibulator instructed according to the invention and Figure 2 is a plan of the connected aisles illustrated in Figure l.

Figures 3 and 4l show in side and end elevations a constructional modification.

- ln carrying the invention into effect according to the modification illustrated in Figures l and 2 the body c is suspended or supported within the body :trom the respective ailles c by two sets of helical springs p, one end et the springs p of each set being secured at opposite ends el the lower part of the body e While the other end of the springs of the respective sets is secured to the axles c, whose respective ends pass through oppositely disposed apertures r in the late al Walls oil the body. The apertures 1 are oit such dimensions aste permit to the axles c, the necessary freedom of vertical and horizontal :movement under road shock. The axles c are connected together by longitudinal bars g to form part ot a rigid frame disposed Within the body beneath the seats n; While the helical springs p et theresliiective sets are advantageously oppositely disposed, their respective outer ends being connected to the body a at its opposite ends and their inner ends to the respectivo axles o, so that thus the weight ot the body a is transmitted inwardly to the respective axles c through the respective sets ot springs, and under road shock the load fauses the extension ot the springs. By such nieans the body is suspended from or supported by a relatively small tra-me Whose length is determined by the distance apart ot' the axles c, and the employment ot an externally extending Erame to which the handle bars are connecte( is avoided. Thus the handles may be applied to the body, and the thrust imparted to the perambulator in moving it, is directly transmitted to the trame through the suspension or supporting springs y) nu hout possibility oi the body swinging in the frame and consequent liability ot toppling over.

The helical springs p may be provided oi. tivo, three or other number at each end, and the ends oit the oppositely disposed springs olf each set are disposed or directed away from the rectangular frame, and the springs may be disposed at a slight upward inclination `from the horizontal towards the trame, to the axles of which the inwardly directed` ends are connected, as illustrated in Figures l and 2.

'lhe helical springs p, however, may be set in other positions, that is to say trom a position very sliwhtly-inclined trom the horizontal to a position nearer the vertical., whereby the load is more or less vertically suspended, but it is in general preferred to dispose the helical springs inclined more or less slightly to the horizontal in the manner illustrated in Fig ure l, and the springs et the respective sets connected to the corresponding axles in opposite positions and directed away trom the ramdas illustrated in those ligures, so that thus in pushing the peramlnilator or mailcart the respective sets oi spiral springs ettectively serve to transmit the thrust to the axles and Wheels. ly such a method ot suspension it is possible to dispense. with handles applied directly to the frame, and the body while beingrcsiliently supported lirmly held.

The helical springs p may be directly `secured to thebody, or they may be secured thereto by means ot' brackets such as o? ures l and 2) of suoli a form and disposition as may be required according to the relative lll() f is enclosed or obscuied.

positions of the springsand the body, the final .turns of veach spring p being applied upon an integral conical partv p2 of a ring p3 secured by means of a pin p4 in the bracket p1, while the springs p may be connected to the axle merely by the ends of the springs encircling the axle, or by the use of special ittings such y as those illustrated in Figure 1 comprising aring s formed with an integral conical part s1 which is engaged by the final turns of the spring p.

The helical springs p may be secured or maintained in determined positions on the axles by any suitable means, such as rings sccured upon the axle,'on which annular grooves are provided within which Vthe ends of the springs may lie.

It will be understood that the rectangular frame formed by the axles aand the longitudinal members Q may be constructed in any convenientV way, but conveniently the longitudinal members of the frame may be brazed or welded to the respective axles. The longitudinal members g may be tubular as may also the main part of the axles e, which if tubular may be provided with-reduced solid ends upon Awhich theV road wheels may be applied in known manner. Y

It will be understood that instead of supporting or suspending the body upon the framel bythe use of helical springs, in the manner described links of india rubber may be employed or any other equivalent; and that instead of employing elastic links, links in the form of rods may be employed that may be conveniently pivoted or otherwise connected to the body or to the frame, and resilient elements interposed between the connected axles and the ends of the body, the arrangement being such that the body is thus supported or suspended from a relatively small frame disposed within orimmediately beneath the body for the purposes described.

In `Figures S and l are illustrated a modiication of the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2 in which the rectangular framecomprising the axles C and longitudinal niembers (I, is disposed in close proximity to and immediately 'beneath'the bottom of the body a, and the side walls of the body a at a (Figures 3 and t), are advantageously downwardly extended below the bottom of the body, so that the greaterpart of' the frame At each end however the side walls of the bodyareV advantageously formedwitli recesses t at the positions at which the axles c are disposed, so

that thus the outwardly extending ends of the 'axles are free to move upwardly and horizontallyftherein under road shock. The recesses tin the side walls of the body may continue in the bottom a3 ofthe body, but this is inessential.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 3 and Ll, the helical springs p are slightly downwardly inclined and are under tension, and the springs may be provided with ring fittings at their respective ends, or the ends of the springs may be formed into rings oi' loops, whereby they may be connected to grooved pins usecured to the side wall of the body a and to the axles respectively.

It will be understood that the edges of the recesses t (Figures 3 and 4) and the upper edges of the apertures l1' may be provided with a lining of rubber or other resilient substance or that butl'ei's or blocks ot' rubber or other resilient substance may be mounted in determined positions upon the axles, or beneath the body as protection against the undue movement of the axles.

I claim:

l. In peiamluilators and similar vehicles, means for mounting the body upon the axles comprising the body, axles transversely disposedl within the said. body, wheels externally mounted at the respective outwardly protruding ends of the said axles and in position beside the said body, means by which the said axles are held iniinovably in relation to each other to forni with the `said axles and within the said body a frame in the plane of the said axles, and elastic tension elements connected at their inner ends with the said internal frame and at their outer ends with the said body, the said elastic tension elements being respectively directed away from the said axles and towards the respective ends of the said body by which the said body is connected to and suspended from the said frame wlieiehy the stresses imposed upon the said elastic tension elements by the weight of the said body are transmitted in part to the said internal frame, substantially as hereinbefoie described.

2. In peranibulators and similar vehicles, means for mounting the body upon the axles comprising the body, axles transversely disposed witliin the said body, wheels externally mounted at the respective outwardly protruding ends of the Isaid axles, parallel longitudinal members forming with the said axles a quzulrilateral frame within the said body and helical tension springs eonneeted at their inner ends with the said internal frame and at their outer ends with the ends lol the said body, the said elastic tension elements being respectively directed away from the said frame and towards the respective ends of the said body by which the said body `is connected to and suspended from the said EDlVARD THOMPSON MORRISS.

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